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UFC 157's Lavar Johnson Flagged for Elevated Testosterone Levels

A post-fight drug test for UFC heavyweight Lavar Johnson (17-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC), who lost a unanimous decision to Brendan Schaub (9-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) at UFC 157, has been flagged for elevated levels of testosterone. An additional carbon isotope ratio test "confirmed the testosterone was consistent with the administration of a steroid," according to CSAC Executive Officer Andy Foster.

Foster clarified that the initial failure was not due to an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone (T/E) level, but could not provide further details on Johnson's failure at the time of this writing.

The commission tested competitors for drugs of abuse and performance-enhancers.

UFC 157 took place Feb. 23 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Johnson, who fought Schaub on the event's FX-televised preliminary-card, tried in vain to keep the fight standing, but was repeatedly taken to the mat over the course of three rounds. From his back, he asked Schaub to stand with him in the final frame and was denied.

The loss was the second straight for Johnson, who opened his UFC career with knockout wins over Joey Beltran and Pat Barry.

Recently, the UFC took a hard line on failed drug tests when it released welterweight Matt Riddle following his second marijuana infraction, and Johnson's positive test could very well jeopardize his octagon career.

An additional carbon isotope ratio test "confirmed the testosterone was consistent with the administration of a steroid," according to CSAC Executive Officer Andy Foster.

First I've heard of a commission doing the carbon isotope testing to detect the presence of exogenous testosterone.